PLAINS PEAT FIRES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5243, 24 February 1928, Page 2

PLAINS PEAT FIRES.

STRENUOUS FIGHTING CONTINUES.

BIG AREA BURNING. The peat fires in the Torehape district continue with unabated vigour and over an increasing area, despite the strenuous fighting of some sixty or more men. During the last two days” there has been comparatively little wind, and there is-still hope of checking the advance, though "Jif, many occasions yesterday the fl:e seemed to get beyond control when sparks were carried by whirlwinds. These whirlwinds seem to be formed by the fire, and their size must be seen to be realised. Yesterday afternoon many were seen on the buryM area near the Maukoro carial, and it ' is estimated that they .were well over a chain in diameter. They carried ashes, sparks, and flaming lumps of peat sometimes, for half a mile. The greatest danger is now on the eastern side of the Maukoro canal, where a corner of Mr A. B. McDonald’s flax has been burned. Apparently no effort is being made to save the rest, but the Torehape flaxmiller is employing all his mill workers and as many others as are available in preventing the fire crossing his boundary. The Lands Department has, about 30 men at work, and the fighting continues day and night. A break has been made, but constant effort is necessary to put out the fires caused by flying sparks. Fires are quelled, with water carried in kerosene tinsj< and even cream cans, but if the extent of the outbreak is too great, a circle round is cleared of vegetation and the soft, woolly peat is torn out and thrown away. The peat is. so soft that it is quicker to pull it out in armfuls than to dig it away. The fight goes on continuously, no sooner is the outbreak reported than the cry goes up further along the line and men have to be rushed with to<ls and tins. The denseness of the smoke makes detection of the outbreaks difficult and working cbndlitions very hard. .Maukoro Canal Road settlers arc working i.ll McClune’s or in Mr Goel, don’s land, endeavouring to stop the spread of the fire back to the soldier settlers’ sections, and Lands Department workmen are endeavouring to stem the advance in the area between the Maukoro canal, and Central Road. Last evening the fire had! advanced as far southward as the extension of Pliillipfe’ Road. The area of the fire is now so extensive that great damage is very likely if a wind, springs up from any direction. Hopal, Rawer&we, Ngatea, and Kaihere are still menaced to a greater extent than is generally realised!